Brussels, 29 June 2013
Press Release
Today, Directors General of Customs attending the annual sessions of the Council of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in Brussels, Belgium re-elected incumbent Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya, for a further five-year term, effective 1 January 2014.
The WCO is the only international inter-governmental institution with a unique focus on Customs issues, and is renowned for its work in developing global Customs standards and in building the operational and management capacity of Customs administrations.
Comprising the WCO’s 179 Members, the Council – the WCO’s highest decision-making body – was unanimous in its decision re-electing Dr. Mikuriya to lead the world’s global Customs body, ensuring that it meets the challenges of the 21st Century trade environment.
In response to his re-election, Dr. Mikuriya said, “I am deeply honoured by the confidence that the Council has in my leadership of the Organization, and am fully committed to continue raising the profile of Customs and the important work it does across the globe.”
While many challenges and opportunities face the international Customs community, with the support of the WCO’s Membership and the staff of the Secretariat, Dr. Mikuriya’s leadership of the Organization will ensure that it remains a flexible and dynamic force in global trade.
Before taking up his position as Secretary General of the WCO in 2009, Dr. Mikuriya spent seven years as the WCO’s Deputy Secretary General, leading efforts to coordinate the work of the Secretariat with international organizations, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as with the private sector.
Prior to joining the WCO, Dr. Mikuriya worked for Japan's Ministry of Finance for 25 years, occupying a variety of senior posts, which gave him broad experience in issues concerning Customs, trade development, budgetary matters and financial policies, including expertise in WTO international trade negotiations.
Kunio Mikuriya has a Bachelor of Arts degree in law from the University of Tokyo (Japan) and a PhD in international relations from the University of Kent (United Kingdom).